Collar form and press apparatus

ABSTRACT

A collar shaping machine for forming and pressing collars or the like is disclosed wherein a pair of rams function as presser plate actuators. A frame is mounted on the working table, and the rams are suspended from the frame over the presser plates. The frame is movable with respect to the working table and the rams are movable with respect to the frame, whereby the point of contact of the ramrods can be relocated on the presser plates to control the pressing action.

United States Patent [191 Fields et a1.

[ COLLAR FORM AND PRESS APPARATUS I [75] Inventors: Jack W. Fields, Vidalia; Robert D.

Camp, McRae, both of Ga.

[52] US. Cl. 223/2 [51] Int. Cl. A41h 43/00, A4lh 33/00 [58] Field of Search 223/2, 37, 38, 61, 63, 223/65 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,553,194 5/1951 l-lovell 223/2 2,619,267 11/1952 Voigt 223/2 2,706,587 4/1955 Frankel 223/2 2,741,407 4/1956 Goldberg 223/2 2,804,244 5/1957 Hunt 223/2 2,909,307 10/1959 Hunt et a] 223/2 Dec. 3, 1974 2,995,279 8/1961 Hunt 223/2 3,633,799 l/l972 Pettit et al. 223/2 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 556,438 4/1957 Belgium 223/2 1,121,59l 8/1956 France 223/2 Primary ExaminerGe0. V. Larkin Attorney, Agent, or FirmJones, Thomas & Askew E 5 7] ABSTRACT A collar shaping machine for forming and pressing collars or the like is disclosed wherein a pair of rams function as presser plate actuators. A frame is mounted on the working table, and the rams are suspended from the frame over the presser plates, The frame is movable with respect to the working table and the rams are movable with respect to the frame, whereby the point of contact of the ramrods can be relocated on the presser plates to control the pressing action.

7 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure COLLAR FORM AND PRESS APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the manufacture of shirts, the plies of a shirt collar are usually sewn together in facing relationship to first form the collar inside out, and the collar must be turned right side out and pressed. The steps of turning and pressing collars are usually performed on a machine that includes a reciprocatable die plate on which the collar is mounted in a right side out attitude, and the die plate moves the collar into a hot mold or pressing apparatus which presses and forms the collar. While various collar shaping apparatus have been developed and used in the past, various difficulties have been realized in the prior art. For example, the collar shaping machines usually include movablepresser plates which must be formed in the desired shape of the collar, and the presser plates must be changed when the collar style or shape is changed. This usually requires a change of the complete head or collar mold as well as the actuating parts for the presser plate. Another problem with the prior art is that when double presser plate devices are used, it is frequently difficult to have both presser plates exert the same force on the collar material when two collars are being pressed simultaneously. Moreover, it is difficult to have a single presser plate exert uniform force over the entire area of a single collar with the prior art devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly described, the present invention comprises a collar shaping machine for forming and pressing collars wherein the Collar pressing plates and related elements of the machine can be expediently removed and replaced with other collar pressing plates and related elements. The working table supports the presser plate actuating means, and the presser plate actuating means is adjustable so that the force exerted on the presser plates can be selectively located at different points on each presser plate, which results in having each presser plate properly press and form collars.

Thus, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a collar shaping machine which properly presses and shapes collars and which can be expediently modified to be able to operate on collars of different configurations.

Other objects, features and advantages ,of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OFTI-IE DRAWING The single drawing FIGURE comprises a perspective view of a portion of a collar shaping machine.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now in more detail'to the drawing, the collar shaping machine comprises a working table 11 disposed at an incline, with the edge.12 being higher than the edge 13. The operator of the collar shaping machine is normally seated adjacent the lower edge 13.

Base plate 15 is mounted on working table 11 by various supports 16, so that base plate 15 is spaced above and is disposed approximately parallel to working table 11. Base plate 15 has an approximately flat upper surface l7 and is of unitary construction. An approximately V-shaped gap 18 is formed in the lower edge of base plate 15.

Side shaping plates 20 and 21 and center shaping plate 22 are rigidly mounted on base plate 15 by means of conventional connecting elements, such as bolts 23. Presser plates 24 and 25 are positioned adjacent side shaping plates 20 and 21 and center shaping plate 22. A pair of brackets 27 and 28, and 29 and 30 are rigidly attached to side shaping plates 20 and 21. Each bracket 27-30 includes a leg portion 31 that extends from its side shaping plate over a presser plate 24 or 25. A support pin 32 is providedfor each bracket 27-30, and one end of each support pin 32 is rigidly connected to its presser plate. Each support pin extends up through an opening in the projecting leg portion of a bracket 27-30, and a coil compression spring 33 surrounds the portion of each pin 32 extending above its bracket. A nut 34 is threaded onto the upper end of each support pin 32. The arrangement of the brackets 27-30 with their support pins 32, springs 33, and nuts 34 is such that each bracket 27-30 functions to lift its presser plates 24 and 25 upwardly away from the base plate 15 to form a gap or space 35 between the presser plates 24 and 25 and base plate 15. The space 35 functions as a mold for shaping and pressing collars. Brackets 27-30 and their related support pins 32, spring means 33, and nuts 34 function as support means for suspending said presser plates in closely spaced relationship above the base plate 15.

Frame 38 is mounted on working table 11. Frame 38 comprises a pair of stanchions 39 and 40 connected at their lower ends to brackets 41 and 42. Brackets 41 and 42 mate with complementary brackets 41a and 42a, and brackets 41a and 42a are rigidly mounted on working table 11. The mating brackets allow frame 12 to move up or down the incline of working table 11, and set screws 43 function to lock the mating brackets together when the frame is properly positioned on the working table. Cross bar 44 is mounted on the upper ends of stanchions 39 and 40, and cross bar 44 extends across base plate 15 above presser plates 24 and 25.

A pair of rams 45 and 46 are mounted on cross bar 44. Each ram 45 and 46 includes a ram cylinder 47 and a ramrod 48 extending downwardly from the cylinder toward a presser plate 24 or 25. Fluid hoses 49 communicate with ram cylinders 47 and control the movement of the ramrods 48. A movable shoe 50 is connected to the lower end of each ramrod 48 to bear against the presser plates 24 and 25. Each ram 45 and 46 is arranged to urge one of the presser plates 24 or 25 toward engagement with the base plate 15. Thus, rams 45 and 46 together with frame 38 function as a presser plate actuating means for causing the downward movement of the presser plates 24 and 25 and the closing of the space 35 between the presser plates and base plate 15. The ram cylinders 47 are movably connected to cross bar 44 by means of slots 51 and 52'defined in cross bar 44. The connecting bolt 53 of each ram cylinder 47 can be loosened and moved along the length of its slot 51 or 52 to reposition each ram 45 or 46 with respect to its presser plate 24 or 25. I

Die plate 55 is movable toward and away from the mold 35 formed by base plate 15, side shaping plates 20 and 21, center shaping plate 22 and presser plates 24 and 25, in the manner indicated by arrow 56. The mechanical linkage utilized to move die plate 55 in this manner is located below working table 11 and is connected to die plate 55 through slot 57. The edge portions 59, 60, 61 and 62 of die plate 55 which face the mold conform to the shape of a shirt collar, such as the shirt collar indicated in dashed lines at 63. The edges of presser plates 24 and 25 which face the edges of side shaping plates 20 and 21 and center shaping plate 22 also conform to the shape of the edges of the collar 63. Thus, when a collar is turned right side out and placed on die plate 55 in the manner indicated in the drawing, the die plate 55 can be moved into the mold to carry the collar 63 into the mold,

Stationary mandrels or turning pins 65 and 66 are mounted between working table 11 and base plate 15 and extend in a plane approximately parallel to the base plate in a direction toward the operator, and terminate in a point. Reciprocal mandrels or turning pins 67 and 68 are spaced between working table 11 and die plate 55 and also include pointed ends. Turning pins 67 and 68 reciprocate in the manner indicated by arrows 69 and 70, toward and away from engagement with the pointed ends of turning pins 65 and 66. The apparatus used to reciprocate turning pins 67 and 68 is located beneath working table 11 and is connected to the turning pins through slots (not shown) in the working table. The mechanical linkages to perform this reciprocating function as well as the reciprocating function of die plate 55 is conventional and is manually actuated by the feet of the operator.

OPERATION The operator of the collar shaping machine usually receives a quantity of collars in bunches, with the collars being connected to one another with chain link stitching, with the collars being turned wrong side out, In order to turn the collars right side out, the operator inserts the point of a collar over a stationary turning pin 65 or 66 until the point of the turning pin is firmly positioned in the point of the collar, and then the operator causes the movable turning pins 67 and 68 to move up toward point-to-point engagement with the stationary turning pins, While the turning pins engage each other, the operator pulls the collar toward her off the stationary turning pin and onto the movable turning pin, which causes the end of the collar clamped between the pins to be turned right side out and with the point of the collar being properly formed. The operator then allows the movable turning pin to be retracted out of the collar and then inserts the now right-side-out collar about the die plate in the manner illustrated at 63, with the pointed end of the die plate being inserted fully up into the point of the collar. The operator then moves the die plate 55 in the direction indicated by arrow 56 toward the mold 35 defined by base plate 15, side shaping plates and 2!, center shaping plate 22 and presser plates 24 and 25. When the die plate is inserted fully up into the mold, the operator causes the presser plate actuating means to function, whereupon rams 45 and 46 exert a downward force on presser plates 24% and 25. Die plate 55 is retracted from the mold, leaving the collar in the mold, as indicated by collar 64. The operator then repeats the previously described steps to invert and insert another collar in the mold with the use of die plate 55 and turning pins 65, 66, 67 and 68. When the next collar is ready to be inserted into the mold, the operator de-actuates the presser plate actuating means and withdraws the previously inserted collar prior to inserting the next collar into the mold.

A pair of conventional induction heating elements (not shown) are mounted on the lower surface of base plate 15 and function to heat the base plate to a temperature compatible with the material of the collars to be formed and pressed.

When the style or shape of the collars being formed and pressed is changed, it is likely that the shapes of the side shaping plates 20 and 21, center shaping plate 22 and presser plates 24 and 25 must also be changed. This can be done without removing the presser plate actuating means since the presser plate actuating means is mounted on working table 11. However, the presser plate actuating means, or portions thereof, can be easily removed if convenient. The base plate 15 and the elements it supports can be removed from the working table and another base plate together with the elements it supports can be mounted on the working table. In some situations, it may be desirable to remove only the side shaping plates 20 and 21 and the presser plates 24 and 25. This eliminates the necessity of detaching the base plate 15 from the work table. Also, it is likely that the die plate 55 also will be replaced with a die plate that conforms to the configuration of the new mold.

If the presser plates 24 and 25 appear to be exerting too much force on one area and not enough force on another area of the collars being shaped and pressed, the point on the presser plates at which the force is exerted by the rams can be changed by moving the frame 38 or by moving the rams and 46 on the frame. The frame can be moved along the incline of the working table by loosening and retightening the set screws 43 of the clamps 41 and 42, and the rams 45 and 46 can be moved with respect to the frame by loosening their bolts 53 and sliding the bolts through the slots 51 and 52. Since the rams operate independently of each other, the movements of the presser plates 24 and 25 will not be restricted by the movements of the opposite presser plate, and both presser plates will always move toward full engagement with the base plate,

It will be understood that the side shaping plates 20 and 21 as well as the center shaping plate 22 function to reinforce the base plate l5 so that when the rams 45 and 46 are actuated and force is applied to the presser piates 24 and 25, the bending stress created in the base plate 15 will be minimized. It will be understood that while rams 45 and 46 exert their forces at a particular point on presser plates 24 and 25, the presser plates spread the force exerted against the base plate I5 over a larger area. Thus, the arrangement of the elements in the structure minimizes any deformation of the base plate and its related elements.

While this invention has been described in detail with particular reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention as described hereinbefore and as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In apparatus for shaping collars or the like including a work table, a base plate mounted on said work table, collar shaping plates rigidly connected to said base plate, and a pair of collar presser plates movable toward and away from said base plate adjacent said shaping plates, the combination therewith of a frame mounted on said work table and extending over said base plate, a pair of rams supported by said frame, each ram including a ramrod movable toward and away from one of said presser plates, and spring means normally holding said presser plates away from said base plate, whereby said rams selectively urge said presser plates toward said base plate.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 and wherein said work table and base plate are approximately parallel to each other and are inclined with respect to the horizontal, and further including mounting brackets connecting said frame to said work table, said mounting brackets including means for moving said frame up or down the incline of said work table, and wherein said rams are movably supported with respect to said frame and are movable across the incline of said base plate, whereby the positions of the rams can be adjusted with respect to the presser plates.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 and wherein said spring means comprises a plurality of brackets rigidly mounted on said side shaping plates and each including a leg portion projecting from said side shaping plates over said presser plates, a support pin for each of said brackets, each support pin being connected at one end thereof to a presser plate, spring means engaging each support pin and its bracket and arranged to urge its presser plate away from said base plate.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising a die plate including edge portions defining the shape of the opposite end edges of a shirt collar or the like and movable into and out of the space between said base plate and said presser plates, and means positioned adjacent the lower surface of said base plate for heating said base plate.

5. Apparatus for shaping shirt collars or the like comprising a work table angled with respect to the horizontal, a base plate mounted on and disposed approximately parallel to said work table and defining a substantially flat upper surface, collar shaping plates rigidly connected to the upper surface of said base plate, a pair of presser plates normally supported above and disposed substantially parallel to said base plate and movable toward and away from the upper surface of said base plate adjacent said collar shaping plates, spring means biasing said presser plates upwardly away from said base plate, presser plate actuating means mounted on said work table and including a ram positioned over each of said presser plates with each ram including a ramrod movable perpendicularly toward and away from a presser plate, whereby the ramrods are movable downwardly against the presser plates to urge the presser plates downwardly against the bias of the spring means toward engagement with the base plate. 7

6. In a collar form and press apparatus including a working table, an inclined base plate mounted above the working table, side shaping plates and a center shaping'plate rigidly connected to said base plate, a pair of presser plates movable toward and away from said base plate adjacent the shaping plates, and presser plate actuating means, the improvement therein of said presser plate actuating means including a frame extending above said base plate and movable along the incline of the base plate, and a pair of rams mounted on said frame and movable across the incline of the base plate and arranged to urge said presser plate toward said base plate.

7. The collar form and press apparatus of claim 6 and wherein said frame includes a pair of stanchions mounted at their lower ends on opposite sides of said base plate to said working table, a cross bar mounted on the upper ends of said stanchions and extending over said presser plates, and said rams being mounted on said cross bar. 

1. In apparatus for shaping collars or the like including a work table, a base plate mounted on said work table, collar shaping plates rigidly connected to said base plate, and a pair of collar presser plates movable toward and away from said base plate adjacent said shaping plates, the combination therewith of a frame mounted on said work table and extending over said base plate, a pair of rams supported by said frame, each ram including a ramrod movable toward and away from one of said presser plates, and spring means normally holding said presser plates away from said base plate, whereby said rams selectively urge said presser plates toward said base plate.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 and wherein said work table and base plate are approximately parallel to each other and are inclined with respect to the horizontal, and further including mounting brackets connecting said frame to said work table, said mounting brackets including means for moving said frame up or down the incline of said work table, and wherein said rams are movably supported with respect to said frame and are movable across the incline of said base plate, whereby the positions of the rams can be adjusted with respect to the presser plates.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 and wherein said spring means comprises a plurality of brackets rigidly mounted on said side shaping plates and each including a leg portion projecting from said side shaping plates over said presser plates, a support pin for each of said brackets, each support pin being connected at one end thereof to a presser plate, spring means engaging each support pin and its bracket and arranged to urge its presser plate away from said base plate.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising a die plate including edge portions defining the shape of the opposite end edges of a shirt collar or the like and movable into and out of the space between said base plate and said presser plates, and means positioned adjacent the lower surface of said base plate for heating said base plate.
 5. Apparatus for shaping shirt collars or the like comprising a work table angled with respect to the horizontal, a base plate mounted on and disposed approximately parallel to said work table and defining a substantially flat upper surface, collar shaping plates rigidly connected to the upper surface of said base plate, a pair of presser plates normally supported above and disposed substantially parallel to said base plate and movable toward and away from the upper surface of said base plate adjacent said collar shaping plates, spring means biasing said presser plates upwardly away from said base plate, presser plate actuating means mounted on said work table and including a ram positioned over each of said presser plates with each ram including a ramrod movable perpendicularly toward and away from a presser plate, whereby the ramrods are movable downwardly against the presser plates to urge the presser plates downwardly against the bias of the spring means toward engagement with the base plate.
 6. In a collar form and press apparatus including a working table, an inclined base plate mounted above the working table, side shaping plates and a center shaping plate rigidly connected to said base plate, a pair of presser plates movable toward and away from said base plate adjacent the shaping plates, and presser plate actuating means, the improvement therein of said presser plate actuating means including a frame extending above said base plate and movable along the incline of the base plate, and a pair of rams mounted on said frame and movable across the incline of the base plate and arranged to urge said presser plate toward said base plate.
 7. The collar form and press apparatus of claim 6 and wherein said frame includes a pair of stanchions mounted at their lower ends on opposite sides of said base plate to said working table, a cross bar mounted on the upper ends of said stanchions and extending over said presser plates, and said rams being mounted on said cross bar. 